Sweet & Simple Sympathy

It was no surprise to me that when I asked my customers what types of cards they needed for their stashes, most of them said they needed sympathy cards. Why do they not have sympathy cards? Because I rarely make them for classes. I find them to be very challenging to make. Even if I don't sit down to make them with a person or situation in mind, I still think about the recipient and how they will be feeling when they receive the card and it just makes it difficult for me.

I do find, though, that it is better for me to have a supply of sympathy cards on hand because when I do need to make one for someone I know, it is that much harder to come up with an idea for a card.

Here is what I came up with for my upcoming event.

I was really happy with how this card turned out. It is fairly simple and uncomplicated, which I think is necessary for sympathy cards. It is also just cheery enough while still appropriate.

 

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Hardwood (background), Simply Sketched

Ink: Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe (for sponging)

Paper: Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White

Accessories: Big Shot, Fun Flowers die, Little Leaves Sizzlet, Boho Blossom punch, Large pearls, sponge

 

Thanks for stopping by! I will have the rest of my samples ready to share next week, so be sure to come back to check them out. 

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MPP Meets FMS

Hello there! I haven't had much time to stamp lately, but I wanted to play along with the fun, new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches. I also received my first shipment from my My Paper Pumpkin subscription this week. I thought it would be fun to combine elements from the kit to make a card for FMS.

Here is the sketch...

And here is my take on the sketch using the My Paper Pumpkin kit as well as a few additional supplies...

Stampin' Up Supplies:
Stamps: My Paper Pumpkin
Paper: My Paper Pumpkin card base, My Paper Pumpkin DSP, Basic Gray, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise, Lucky Limeade cardstocks
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: Big Shot, 3" Circle Die, Fun Flowers die, Tasteful Trim Die, button (My Paper Pumpkin), Lucky Limeade baker's twine

This card was very quick and easy to put together. It was really fun to use elements from the kit, but still make my own design. I decided to keep it really clean and simple and not to add too many elements beyond what was in the kit. I really only added the baker's twine and pieces cut using the Big Shot and dies.

I hope you like my card and that it will help to get my mojo flowing again. I hope to try to stamp again sometime in the next few days. Maybe I will have more to share soon. Until then, take care and happy stamping. :)

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Fun Fab Flower

Hello again! I just have to take a minute and say that all of us over at Fab Friday were totally blown away by the entries last week. They were all beautiful and we couldn't believe how many people played along with our very first challenge! Thank you to everyone who participated! It is time for challenge #2 and this time Mindy has a beautiful color challenge for us...

Don't you just love these colors- gorgeous! I have to admit that as much as I love this color combination, it was a bit of a challenge for me. I have had a bit of a stamping slump lately and I struggled to come up with a card. It took a few attempts to come up with a design that I liked. I need to give a shout out to my BSF (Best Stampy Friend) Rita, who helped me through my struggles via text. Thanks, Rita! Anyway, this is what I finally made with a little help from the awesome sketch at Sweet Sunday.

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:
Stamps: Friendly Phrases
Paper: So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Houndstooth & Scaringbone DSP
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: Big Shot, Fun Flowers die, Argyle EF, Scallop Border punch, Neutral button, baker's twine, dimensionals, glue dots

Here is the sketch from Sweet Sunday if you would like to play along...

Come by Fab Friday and check out all of the design team projects and then play along with us! We would love to see your creations! Thanks for stopping by!

~Marla

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Freshly Made Sketches + ColorQ

Long time no blog! Sorry about that! I was out of town visiting family and it has taken me some time to get back in the swing of things and adapt to our summer schedule. I am not yet finding our summer days to be relaxed and carefree. We seem to be doing a lot of running around and are away from the house quite a bit. It makes it difficult to fit in stamping time.

I'm trying to get back to regularly participating in challenges. I had so much fun doing them a couple of weeks ago, and to my great surprise, three out of the four cards I made received at least an honorable mention on the challenge blogs. That was a great feeling! As someone who has CASEd many projects over the years, it is good to know that I am able to come up with decent designs on my own.

Here is today's card combining the sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches with the color combination at ColorQ.

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:
Stamps: Perfectly Penned
Paper: Midnight Muse, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White
Ink: Midnight Muse
Accessories: Big Shot, Fun Flowers die, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Boho Blossoms punch, Blossom Petals Builder punch, In Color brad, Mat pack, paper piercer

I just love this die! It is my go to die when I am struggling to come up with an idea. I don't think you can make an ugly card with it! This card is fairly simple, but it would be an excellent card to make if you needed to make several and it could be any type of card just by changing the sentiment! Love that! Anyway, hope you liked my card. Check out the two challenges and play along!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Marla

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The Paper Players + Sunday Stamps

In keeping with my personal challenge of stamping an original project each day, here is my fourth challenge card. I made this card late last night and by the time I finished it, I was way too sleepy to write a blog post. This time I combined the fun sketch at The Paper Players with the soft and pretty color challenge at Sunday Stamps.

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:
Stamps: Friendly Phrases
Paper: Pool Party, Sahara Sand, Wisteria Wonder
Ink: Wisteria Wonder
Accessories: Big Shot, Fun Flowers die, Perfect Polka dots EF, Pool Party ruffled ribbon, Boho Blossoms punch, mat pack, paper piercer, In Color brad

I'm really having fun doing stamping challenges! I didn't realize that there were so many out there! A special thanks to my stamping/texting friend, Rita, for hanging in there with me while I worked on this card. It was a bit of a labor of love. I started out using a different color combo that just wasn't working. Rita suggested the Sunday Stamps combination and then the card just came together. It is nice to have a friend to help me through the creative process (and struggles).

Check out these fun challenges and give them a try-

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all who have served and are serving!

~Marla Pin It